Daughters Love Like you Do.

Bimpe sits on the swing outside the house waiting for her daddy. She's eight, the time is 3pm. Dad is supposed to take her to the movies; just the both of them to see that cartoon that came out last week. "Daddy will soon be home the movie starts by 5pm." Bimpe thinks excitedly.
Its 4pm, daddy isn't home yet. “Daddy promised he will be here! If he comes right now we'll leave immediately" Bimpe thinks with hope.
Its 6:30pm, daddy isn't home. Mummy comes outside to persuade her to come in, that daddy isn't going to be on time, they can't go anymore, but she just sits on the swing looking into space like daddy is on his way, until mummy comes to carry her as she begins to sob. Daddy doesn't get back till 10pm with the biggest bowl of ice cream to make her feel better. "I'm sorry sweetheart, work kept me". So Bimpe sleeps with her teddy much closer tonight, sad that daddy disappointed her.

Bimpe stands on the stage with the school choir about to take the solo. She is 17. She looks into the crowd and sees so many smiling parents. She sees her mum, all smiles and an empty seat beside her. "Daddy is running late, he wouldn't hear my solo" she thinks sadly. The piano sounds, that's her cue. She sings her heart out; she's amazing everyone tells her so. She's steps outside the school lot and there he is. "I'm sorry honey, got caught up in work" "but I told you a month ago" "I know I'm sorry. Let me make it up to you" He stops by Burberry and gives her his credit card. He smiles, she smiles back weakly. She is so tired of all the guilt gifts. She buys just a scarf "is that all" he asks? "Yes.
Bimpe is at her graduation from college. She is 21. She walks to the podium as her name is called. She looks at the crowd, mummy is so proud, in between taking pictures, crying and waving. There's an empty seat. "He isn't coming, I'm too sure" she thinks nonchalantly. She gets home and there is a Mercedes Benz with a bow on it and a note “I’m so sorry sweetheart. Work wouldn't let me"
So six years later Bimpe is at the hospital waiting for her format ultrasound. She is 27. Her husband Bola isn't here yet. He is 45 minutes late. He walks in through the door trying to explain that work kept him but Bimpe goes ballistic. So ballistic they have to leave. He apologises when they get home. She won't stop screaming at him. Then she stops and starts crying. Bola doesn't understand but he holds her anyway. "All I did was come late" he thinks to himself. What he doesn't know is she has been stood up so many times, she skips the disappointment phase and goes right to rage. It’s not her fault anymore. Its daddy’s because work never let him come through for her. Work had kept one man away long enough. Not again.
"Daughters will love like their fathers do..." John Mayer

Oyinkan Daramola.